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Quotable Quotes: Li & Cibulkova

Does Li Na believe in third time lucky? Does Dominika Cibulkova think the size of a player matters in tennis? Check out some of the best quotes from the two Australian Open finalists right here.

Published January 24, 2014 12:14

Li Na, Dominika Cibulkova

MELBOURNE, Australia - Li Na and Dominika Cibulkova haven't just been a hit on the court these last two weeks, they've been a hit in the press room. Check out some of their best quotes from Oz...

Li NaOn how much she wants this title..."A lot. Because I've always done well here, and I always look forward to playing here."

On the importance of constantly improving..."When you're on the tour for so many years, everybody knows exactly how you play on the court. If I don't improve, I can stay in the Top 10 or Top 20, but I can't be the best in the world. So I really want to keep pushing myself to change. It's very tough at first because you think if you change you'll lose the old things, but I need to trust myself and my coach, and believe change will help me."

When told she looks very natural at the net..."I think I have a very good volley, yes! But the first time Carlos told me I should come to the net and volley more, I was like, 'What is this guy talking about? Why? I've stayed on the baseline for maybe 100 years and never tried to come to the net.' But we tried and I felt good about it. Especially at Wimbledon last year, even if I lost the match, at least I tried. I've found a new thing for my game."

On whether she believes in third time lucky..."In China, 6 and 8 are lucky. I'm not sure. I'll try to find the luck."

And whether she has any thoughts of retiring, win or lose..."No. If I lose, I'll just continue until 6 or 8."

Dominika CibulkovaOn Slovakia..."We are a really small country. We are just five million people. I really love to play for my country. I think the people are so proud that the rest of the world will now know we're from Slovakia."

On whether the size of a player matters..."It's not about how tall you are. Even if you're tall, it doesn't mean you're going to make it 100%. You have to really want something and believe in it. There's nothing more important than that."

On whether she remembers Amanda Coetzer, who was 5'2" and made it to No.3 in the world..."Of course I know about her. She was that kind of player who was still playing when I was starting to play tennis. I can't say I was looking up to her, but I knew she was really little, and it was good to see that there are some players who are so little who can become really successful in tennis."

On when she started becoming so driven..."I don't know. I've had it since I was a little kid. When I play my best tennis, that's where you can see the power and the fight. You have to have something extra if you want to be one of the best tennis players in the world and you're not the tallest one out there. This is what I have extra, I think."

On following up upsets..."It's not easy because many times at the big tournaments I've beaten a Top 10 player, but then you play against somebody you should beat and it's a completely different story. That's what I'm trying to work on now. Like this week I don't think it was easy for Ana to come out again after beating Serena, because then she was the favorite against Bouchard. I knew how she was feeling on the court."

WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen | World No.1 Angelique Kerber leads a stacked field at the Apia International Sydney that also features WTA Finals winner Dominika Cibulkova; check out the full entry list here on wtatennis.com.